Folding crate.



L. W. ARMSTRONG & J. J. FRAZEE.

FOLDING CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED 050.13, 1915.

1 ,205,96 1 Patented Nov. 28, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

L. W. ARMSTRONG 6L]. 1. FRAZEE.

FOLDING CRATE.

APPLICATION man DEC. I3. 1915.

' L,205,96l. Patented Nov. 28, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

v 49 ifl I TTE 5.. STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LUTHER W. ARMSTRONG AND JAMES J. FRAZEE, 0F GALESBURG, ILLINOIS.

FOLDING CRATE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, LUTHER W. ARM- STRONG and JAMES J. FRAZEE, both citizens of Galesburg, in the county of Knox and State of Illinois, have ointly invented a new and useful Folding Crate, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to that class of crates which are adapted to be collapsed and folded into a small, compact unit.

The primary object of the invention is to generally simplify and improve the construction and to increase the utility, strength, durability and efficiency of packages of this character.

The improvements are directed particularly toward so constructing and arranging the elements that the crate may with ease and facility be folded into compact form and for locking them when in such form, and with equal convenience be unfolded and arranged in operative positions; toward the provision of novel means for connecting the sides with the top when the crate is in dis sembled form; and toward several novel structural features presently more definitely referred to.

The invention consists substantially in the improvements hereinafter described.

By way of example a crate embodying the novel features of our invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein: I

Figure 1 is an end view of the crate, assembled; Fig. 2, a side view of the crate, assembled; Fig. 3, a top plan of the crate, assembled; Fig. 1, a bottom plan of the crate, assembled; Fig. 5, a sectional view, its plane taken in the line 55 in Fig. 3; Fig. 6, an assembly viewan end elevation; Fig. 7 an enlarged plan, showing the method of placing the parts when the crate is knocked down; Fig. 8, an enlarged end elevation of the crate, folded; Fig. 9, a side elevation thereof; and Fig. 10, a modified form of the locking end of one of the rods, showing a fragment of one of the pieces onto which it locks.

Comingnow to a detailed description of the drawings and indicating each element by a distingulshing reference numeral, uniformly employed throughout the several views, 2 designates a base or bottom preferably formed of a board 3, (for which any other suitable material may be substituted) to which are suitably secured transversely arranged end frame-bars ,4: and a middle bar Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 13, 1915.

Patented Nov. 28, 1916.

Serial No. 66,523.

Near each of their ends these bars are provided with registering apertures for the reception of locking rods 6 preferably permanently positioned.

Each side 7 comprises end-posts 8, a centrally arranged post 9, and strips 10 or other suitable means for uniting them. Near both the upper and lower ends of each post 8 and 9 is an'aperture, these apertures arranged to register. 7

Each end comprises posts 12 united by slats 13 or the like which project slightly past said posts.

The top let preferably comprises transverse end frame-bars 15, a middle bar 16, and slats or other suitable covering 17 secured to said bars 15 and 16. Near their outer ends said bars are provided with registering apertures through which rods 6 are adapted to pass. At their upper midlengths the bars 15 and 16 are provided with notches in which a removable slat 17 is adapted to slide, said bar being retained by keeperstraps 18. i

19, 19 designate links whereby the crate is rigidly locked when in knocked-down or folded condition. The links are inoperative when the crate is in position for use.

In Fig. 10 we have shown a modified form of locking rod, here designated as 6", one of its ends bent to provide a loop 6" adapted to clasp either bar 4, whereby to lock it from endwise movement.

Assume the parts to be in the positions shown in Fig 6: To assemble the crate the sides 7 will be swung upward on the rods 6, into vertical positions. Each end 11 is then positioned, with the foot of each post 12 resting in a rectangularly cutaway corner 20 I (Fig. 1) of the bottom-board 3, thus holding it from inward movement both laterally and longitudinally. The foot of each of-said posts is restrained from outward longitudinal movement by reason of it rest inginward of and against the adjacent framebar 1, and from outward lateral movement by the adjacent post 8, against which it rests. The top 14 is then positioned, and is secured in place by the upper rods 6 passing through the apertures or eyes in the ends of the frame bars 15 and 16 and through the eyes in the upper ends of the posts 8 and 9. The outer slats rest each against the inner faces of the adjacent posts 12, and the frame-bars l5 lie outside the upper ends of the endposts 12 and prevent outward movement thereof. The ends of the end-slats l overlap the side frame-posts 8, thus preventing V the ends 11 from inward movement. It will be understood, of course, that thelower rods 6 were passed through the corresponding eyes in the elements 4-5 and 89 dur ing the first operative-position-assembling operation, and that the links 19 are swinging loosely on the rods 6 during said operation.

Assume the parts to be in the positions shown in Fig. 6: To assemble the crate in knocked-down or collapsed order the top 14 may be laid on any suitable support, with the slats uppermostthe framebars thereof thus on the outside. The sides 7 are then swung on the permanent rods 6 in the manner indicated by dotted and broken lines in said figure, but before they are completely folded the ends 11 are laid each between a pair (4 5) of the frame bars of the bottom 2. The swinging movement of the sides is then completed, whereby the bars 8 will lie each just inside of and parallel with a bar 4 and the bars ,9 will lie alongside and parallel with the bar 5. The ends 11 are thus locked between the bottom proper 3 and the sides 7 and are held from longitudinal move ment by the rods 6. The bottom, sides and ends are then reversed (or turned upside down) and laid upon the top 14; in the manner shown in Figs. 8 and 9, whereupon the rods 6 are inserted through'the apertures 25' (Fig. 6) in the frame bars 15, 16, and through the links 19 which embrace also the rods 6, thus locking all parts of the crate in the folded or collapsed position shown in Figs. 8 and 9. It will be clear that numerous other orders of knock-down assemblage may be resorted to: For instance, the bottom 2 may be placed with the board 3 resting on a suitable support, the ends 11 positioned between the frame bars thereof, the sides 7 swung on the hinge-rods 6 into positions reversed from operative ones, the top 14 then laid on said sides, and the loops 19 engaged by the rods 6 and 6. This,in

fact, is the preferred method of assemblage.

Any of the rods 6, 6 may be locked, temporarily or permanently, by driving a small staple 21 to straddle the bent end thereof.

One of the advantages of our' improvements, not hereinbefore mentioned, is that it may be thoroughly cleansed either when asembled for use, knocked-down, or disassembled positions. It may be either assembled or knocked down with great rapidity, and when in either position is extremely rigid and safe. When knocked down it occupies a very small space and it complies with every requirement of both railways and shippers.

It has not been thought either necessary bes teencu b his sp cific i and theaccompanying drawings with additional.

I descriptions and illustrations of modificabottom the corres JOIICllIL ends of said bars provided with registering eyes, ends including posts adapted to seat in said recesses, sides including posts provided with eyes at both their upper and lower ends, and a top including transversely arranged'framebars eachend of'each of which isprovided with an eye, rods passed each through eyes in one end of the bottom frame bars and through the corresponding ones in the lower ends of the side posts, and rods passed each through eyes in the topfram'e bars and through the-corresponding ones in the upper ends of the side posts.

2. A knock-down crate comprising a base including a bottom proper having its corners cut away to provide recesses, transversely arranged frame-bars united to said bottom, the corresponding ends of said bars provided with registering eyes, ends including posts adapted to seat in said recesses, sides including posts provided with eyes at both their upper and lower ends, atop including transversely arranged frame-bars each end of each of which is provided with an eye,rods passed each through eyes in one end of the bottom frame bars and through the corresponding ones in the lower ends of the side posts, and rods passed each through eyes in the top-frame bars and through the corresponding ones in the upper ends of the side posts, the frame bars of the top arranged to prevent the ends from movement outwardly, and the side-posts adapted to prevent them from endlong movement. v V

3. A knock-down crate comprising a base including a bottom proper having its corners cut away to provide recesses, transversely arranged frame-bars united tosaid bottom, the corresponding ends of said bars provided with registering eyes, ends including posts adapted to seat in said recesses, sides including posts provided with eyes at both their upper and lower ends, a top including transversely arranged frame-bars each endof each of which is provided with an eye, rods passed'each through eyes in one end of the bottom frame bars and through the corresponding ones in the lower ends of the side posts, and rods passed each through eyes the top-frame bars and through the corresponding ones in the upper ends of the side posts, said bottom proper arranged on top of the frame'bars to which it is secured.

4. A knock-down crate comprising a base comprising transversely arranged framebars and a bottom proper secured thereon; sides each comprising posts and slats secured thereto; ends comprising each posts and slats secured thereto; a top comprising transversely arranged frame-bars and slats secured thereto; a plurality of rods whereby said base, sides, ends and top may be secured together to form a crate; and links removably positioned on said rods; said sides and ends adapted to bedisassembled and then positioned in the plane of the base.

and top and intermediate them, said rods mlapted to be passed through registering eyes in said base and top frame-bars where by to unite them, and said links to connect adjacent pairs of said rods.

5. A knock-down crate comprising a base consisting of transverse frame-bars and a bottom-proper secured thereon; ends adapted to lie between and transversely of said bars when knocked-down; a top comprising transverse frame-bars and slats united thereto; sides adapted to lie intermediate and longitudinally of said base and top when knocked-down; rods uniting the outer ends of the frame-bars of the base and top, and links embracing adjacent pairs of said rods, said links adapted to prevent escape of said ends from between the base and top.

6. A collapsible crate comprising a base or lower member consisting of a bottom proper and frame-bars arranged tra11sversely thereof, one at each end and one intermediate them, each end portion of each frame-bar provided with an aperture; endmembers adapted when collapsed to lie each in contact with said bottom and between an intermediate and an end frame-bar; side members consisting each of end frame-posts and an intermediate frame-post and means for connecting them, each end portion of each of these frame-posts provided with an aperture; hinge-rods, each inserted through the corresponding apertures in said framebars and frame-posts; a top including frame-bars provided each with apertures near its outer ends; rods inserted through registering ones thereof; and links connecting said rods with the ones first recited.

7. A collapsible crate comprising a bottom including transversely arranged end framebars and a central frame-bar; sides, each including end posts and a center post; hingerods, one connecting said posts with said frame-bars in such manner that all of said posts and bars may lie in parallelism; ends, each adapted to lie, when the crate is collapsed, between said sides and bottom; a top including transversely arranged frame-bars each of which is provided with an aperture near each of its ends; rods passed each through the apertures at one of said ends; and links connecting them with the rods first recited.

8. A collapsible crate comprising a bottom including transversely arranged end frame bars and a central frame-bar; sides, each including end posts and a center post; hingerods, each connecting said posts with said frame-bars in such manner that all of said posts and bars may lie in parallelism; ends, each adapted to lie, when the crate is collapsed, between said sides and bottom; a top including transversely arranged framebars each of which is provided with an aperture near each of its ends; rods passed each through the apertures at one of said ends; and links connecting them with the rods first recited, said rods adapted to lie in front of the ends of the end members and to prevent their displacement or loss.

In testimony whereof we hereunto set our hands this 4th day of December, 1915.

LUTHER W. ARMSTRONG. JAMES J. FRAZEE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of latents. Washington, D. G. 

